The Philippine Star

Rody hails Kylie: Pinays are beautiful

- – Edith Regalado, Artemio Dumlao

DAVAO CITY – Kylie Verzosa deserves to win the Miss Internatio­nal 2016 pageant because she is beautiful, unlike those in the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) who are ugly, President Duterte said yesterday.

He said Verzosa’s winning the Ms. Internatio­nal title gives Filipinos bragging rights that indeed Filipinas are beautiful.

“Of course, I am happy. I am always happy if our beautiful women win titles. Simply because they are Filipinos, but all of you from the Commission on Human Rights, you are all

pangit (ugly),” he said. The President’s punch line against the CHR stemmed from his long-standing feud with its officials, including former chairs Leila de Lima – now senator – and Etta Rosales. Both officials had repeatedly called his attention to the human rights violations and extrajudic­ial killings.

Duterte had just left Tokyo when Verzosa was proclaimed winner in the Japanese capital.

Duterte was on a flight home to Davao City from his three-day visit to Japan when Verzosa took the title.

Verzosa met the President shortly before the pageant finals Thursday night.

Duterte congratula­ted Verzosa, a native of Baguio City, for the feat. He said he is looking forward to personally

congratula­te Verzosa.

“Mabuhay… I’d like to meet her just to congratula­te her personally,” Duterte said.

Verzosa is a graduate of Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in Business Management. Her various modeling stints helped shoulder her tuition.

“We’re proud of her,” Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan said.

Domogan said Verzosa’s family owns a gourmet restaurant in Baguio.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Bilog also hailed Verzosa “with her beauty, intelligen­ce and hard work coming into play, her crown is a fitting reward.”

Bilog said Verzosa would serve as a role model to the youth of Baguio City.

Bilog said the Baguio City council is drafting a resolution to honor Verzosa.

 ??  ?? Selfie photo posted by 2016 Miss Internatio­nal Kylie Verzosa on her Instagram account shows the beauty queen with President Duterte, whom she met prior to the pageant in Tokyo. Duterte was in Japan earlier this week.
Selfie photo posted by 2016 Miss Internatio­nal Kylie Verzosa on her Instagram account shows the beauty queen with President Duterte, whom she met prior to the pageant in Tokyo. Duterte was in Japan earlier this week.

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